Two Days in Cape Town

via Emirates and Lufthansa First Class

June 2026

Off to Cape Town

Today I’m off for two days in Cape Town, one of my favorite cities in the world. Even better is that I get to spend 30 hours with Emirates First Class, starting with 15 hours on The Gamechanger, my absolute favorite way to fly. But first I have to get to Chicago.

Security was a breeze as usual with CLEAR+ PreCheck... less than 30 seconds from the concourse to the conveyor.

My original ticket was on American, but I've learned to always have a backup. And at the first hint of trouble, I dumped them for United.

Nice 1 year old A321neo...

Yeah, that was a good move. Another AA meltdown.

In the air...

On time arrival at O'Hare.

And an easy train ride to T5.

Emirates Gamechanger to Dubai

Emirates First Class Gamechanger to Dubai

After a short train ride from Terminal 1, easy check in at Terminal 5.

With a couple of hours before boarding, the LOT Busines Lounge was a pleasant place to chill... way better than the terrible SAS lounge that Emirates used to contract.

Chicago ORD to Dubai DXB

Emirates EK 236

777-300ER (77W)

8:35pm-7:30pm +1

June 23, 2026

Cost: 187,500 Skywards miles (including DXB-CPT)

Tonight's beautiful 77W Gamechanger...

My favorites seat in the sky. :)

Gorgeous sunset departing Chicago.

Tonight's menu.

Showtime: Emirates First style.

And 2 lovely wines.

Amuse bouche.

Cream of tomato soup with spring onions.

Kerala-style prawn curry. 1/2 serving.

USDA Prime Denver steak. No idea what a "Denver steak" is but it was menu says pan-fried beef with braised short ribs and brioche truffle crumbs. Very good.

And a decadent Sticky date pudding.

Sunrise over Quebec.

Time for bed. Way better than Ambien. lol

Seven hours of great sleep.

Pre-landing breakfast.

Lobster florentine omelet.

Amazing sunset on approach to Dubai.

My Instagram video of my day with Emirates on the way to Dubai

Emirates First Class Lounge Dubai

Emirates First Class Lounges at Dubai

My lovely Italian Emirates personal assistant greeting me as I deplaned at the A gates at DXB.

And escorting me to transit security and to the First Class Lounge.

Time to relax in one of the cool Pods.

After a refreshing shower, time for dinner.

And some wine.

Yes, Clos Apalta in the lounge.

Wow, wonderful morel mushrooms soup.

Hyderabadi chicken biryani

Whoa, decadent sweets.

After a short train ride, I'm in the B concourse.

And checking out the wines, still oddly hidden away behind the counter.

Wow, what a find. The 2015 Bouchard Grand Cru Chevalier-Montrachet!!

Time for a snack.

And a few glasses on this sensational Chevalier-Montrachet.

And Emirates fabulous Butter Chicken.

Emirates First Class to Cape Town

Emirates First Class Dubai to Cape Town

Tonight's Cape Town flight departs from the dreaded C concourse. No train service means a long, long, long walk. Although golf carT/buggy service was offered, I declined and opted to some exercise.

Dubai DXB to Cape Town CPT

Emirates EK 772

777-300ER (77W)

3:45am-11:05am

June 25, 2026

This morning's menu...

Once airborne, OMG... the 2015 Bouchard Grand Cru Chevalier-Montrachet!

Still full, I took one for the team and a light snack.. Salmon Poke bowl.

Bedtime across the aisle in one of the 3 unoccupied seats.

Movie snack time...

And Wagyu sliders.

Lovely views of South Africa on approach to Cape Town.

Unlike the departure chaos, CPT arrivals were a breeze and I was first in the queue.

My Instagram video my Dubai lounge hopping and my Emirates First flight to Cape Town.

Cape Grace Hotel

Cape Grace Hotel - Cape Town

One of my favorite areas of Cape Town is the V&A Waterfront. On this trip chose the Cape Grace Hotel by Fairmont using ALL Accor points and my annual upgrade award. What a great location and beautifully renovated.

What a stunning suite!

And cool bar...

Two balconies...

And an fabulous view.

After I checked, a short walk to lunch with a friend at wonderful Marble Cape Town, younger sister to Marble Joburg.

Lobster salad.

Yummy seafood paella.

V&A view from Marble.

Back to the hotel for nap.

Nice welcome gift.

Views from later in the afternoon as the sun sets.

Instagram video of Cape Grace Hotel and lunch at Marble Cape Town.

Salsify at the Roundhouse

Salsify at the Roundhouse

Dinner tonight is at one of my favorite restaurants… Salsify at the Roundhouse, now up to #88 in the Worlds 50 Best list. What a wonderful experience.

Day in the Cape Winelands

Cape Wineland Day

Today is get away day and a special Cape Winelands day with visits to three wineries including Waterford Estate and Kanonkop. But the highlight of the day was my morning at 4G Wines in Somerset West.

Good morning from foggy Cape Town.

Breakfast at the Cape Grace restaurant.

Excellent shakshuka.

First stop today is in West Somerset and 4G Wines. This small winery produces some of the most incredible wines that I’ve ever tasted. I only discovered them when I enjoyed their amazing Echo of G on a recent Lufthansa flight. Then managed to track them down and secure a private tasting with talented wine maker Tian Schlotz. What a wonderful treat!

2026 vintages...

2025 vintages...

Our palate cleanser. :)

Amazing!

And double amazing!

And a fun parting treat.

Such a treat. Thanks so much Tian!

About 20 minutes away is the Stellenbosch.

Delicious onion soup.

Yummy steak frites.

The final stop today is Kanonkop Estate.

A winery with a sense of humour.

Now this is history.

My Instagram video of my day in the Cape Winelands.

Qatar Business Class to Doha

Qatar Business Class Cape Town to Doha

After a fun two days in Cape Town, it’s time to start the long circuitous trek home to Denver, starting with Qatar Business Class to Doha. But what a dysfunctional mess Cape Town airport is for departing international passengers. With numerous early evening wide body departures, this airport is simply not equipped or staffed to handle this many passengers. Only 2 conveyors and detectors at security to handle the hundreds and hundreds of passengers in queue. And no Fast Track for Business or First Class passengers.

Walked into the terminal and thought how odd? Wonder what these losers are all queuing for? LOL

No one at Qatar check-in.

WTF? Massive queue for security and no Fast Track.

Queue wound all the way around the terminal, and I joined the queue of losers.

If that wasn’t enough, the line for passport control extended a good 100 meters, because only 3 of 12 passport control booths were staffed. Passengers with close in departures were being pulled out of line and escorted towards the front of the queue.

With the queue barely moving, I joined one of those groups and jumped the queue towards the front, the only way to make my flight.

Check-in to my gate took 93 minutes. What a disgrace but not surprising for South Africa, sadly.

Cape Town CPT to Doha DOH

Qatar QR 1372

A359

7:30pm-6:00am

June 28, 2026

Cost: 55,000 AA miles

Once on board, excellent service on the 9 hour flight to Doha.

Showtime: Qatar non-Q Suites Business Class style.

Salmon amuse-bouche.

Tomato and sweet pepper soup.

Excellent pan-seared chicken breast filled with mushrooms.

Bed time.

Instagram video of Cape Town departures and Qatar Business Class to Doha.

Qatar Al Safwa First Class Lounge

Qatar Al Safwa First Class Lounge Doha

With a 2.5 hour Doha connection to my flight to Cairo, I headed for the Qatar Al Safwa First Class Lounge.

Once one of the best First Class lounges in the world, Al Safwa’s glory days are long gone, now overcrowded with mediocre wines that wouldn’t even be offered in many Business Class lounges.